E-Flite/Horizon Hobby Delta Ray One

This attention grabber is even more fun to fly!

- Greg Gimlick

With its speedy look and slick, futuristic appearance, this delta wing has SAFE (Sensor Assisted Flight Envelope) technology to make learning easier and stabilize those outside influences. You can also upgrade the electronics to SAFE Plus GPS to add AutoLand and Virtual Fence capabilities. Although this isn’t a model of a “real” full-scale plane, it has a great presence in the air. Its diminutive size is not to be underestimated, either; this little bugger will scoot! It arrives 100 percent factory-assembled and ready to fly right out of the box.

UNIQUE FEATURES

What is most impressive is that this plane comes out of the box with all this technology onboard ready to fly. There is no assembly of any sort. If you buy the ready-to-fly (RTF) version, the transmitter is already set and bound to the plane. If you buy the Bind-N-Fly (BNF) version, it will take about 10 minutes to program your radio using the settings laid out in the manual. You might as well charge the battery while you’re doing it.

My RTF version arrived with the MLP6A 6-channel SAFE transmitter and a set of AA batteries for it. This is a small transmitter, which will feel right at home in the hands of those who are gamers. If you’re used to a full-size radio, it will feel a bit odd but quite comfortable. If you’re training youngsters, they will be happy to see a transmitter that actually fits small hands.

Access to the plane’s battery compartment is through the front top hatch. It’s held in place with a small snap latch, which is solid and secure. There is ample room for the battery to be adjusted for the proper center of gravity. I ended up with my 2S 280mAh pack almost all the way to the front. If for any reason, you need to access the electronics or servos in the fuselage, a hatch on the bottom makes that possible without tools.